The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled to enjoy widespread relevance across the NFL since their inaugural season in 1995. Some of that is due to the fact that they play in a small market, but the biggest reason is that they haven't won on a consistent basis. From 2010 to 2024, the Jags made the playoffs just twice, and they went on to have a losing record the following year. The good news is that the trio of James Gladstone, Liam Coen, and Tony Boselli is seemingly bucking the trend.
With Gladstone, Coen, and Boselli at the helm, Jacksonville went 13-4 and seized the AFC South last year. Their work with the Jags rightly turned heads across the league. And just recently, insider Jordan Schultz shared how other clubs feel about Jacksonville after their successful 2025.
Jordan Schultz heaped praise on the Jaguars decision makers (and Trevor Lawrence)
Jordan Schultz made an appearance on 1010 XL and told host Rick Ballou that the perception about the Jaguars across the league is positive, heaping praise on vice president Tony Boselli and general managerJames Gladstone for overseeing a one-year turnaround. Below's the exchange; his remarks start at the 6:47 mark.
"You know what? I'm so glad you asked that because I've gone through, basically, since the combine and free agency, who are the teams trending really upward, and who are the three teams turning downward? Jacksonville, you could argue, is as hot a team and organization as there is in football," Schultz said. "I think the addition to give Tony Boselli, who's an icon, a real voice, is a really smart move."
Schultz continued, "But when James Gladstone was hired, I don't think he was on the bingo card, so to speak, for most people, and he comes from the Rams, he comes from that Les Snead disciple tree. And his ability as a scout, I think, is really strong. I also think he just gets it. You know what I mean by that is in the modern day and age, when it comes to not only evaluating but building the type of team you have to take risks."
"And I know Travis Hunter was injured for the back half of the season, but that's the type of move that you only make, especially as a first-year GM, at his age, the youngest GM in football, you only make it if you have stones and you have conviction. And that's the type of GM, all due respect to previous regimes, including Trent Baalke. That's just the type of GM Jacksonville has not had."
Later in the conversation, Schultz also praised Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence for their role in their ascension to league prominence.
"So if I'm a Jacks fan, I feel great about him. And then Liam Coen coming over from Tampa Bay, the impact he had on Baker Mayfield, enormous. And then you think about the back half of last season with Trevor Lawrence, I just can't think of a more improved player, the synergy in the organization from the top down hasn't been any better," Schultz stated.
The year before the Jaguars hired Coen, Boselli, and Gladstone, they went 4-13. Moreover, they had failed to make the playoffs in three of the prior four seasons.
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The Jaguars must now have to deal with the weigh of expectations
As the old adage says, pressure either bursts pipes or creates diamonds. And after raising the bar in 2025, the Jaguars will now have to endure the increased expectations. Based on their successful 2025, they should be able to pull it off.
Liam Coen, James Gladstone, and Tony Boselli were holding their respective jobs for the first time in their NFL careers. Yet, they managed to turn Jacksonville into a playoff team right out of the gate. With more experience under their belt, they should have no trouble picking up where they left off.
And if the Jags manage to keep taking steps in the right direction, it will be hard for the national media to keep ignoring them.
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